Thanksgiving Wines

HOLIDAYS! Time to gather and give thanks for all the wonderful things in life. My Thanksgiving is usually spent serving other families, but it makes coming home to a loving husband, a delicious dinner, and a few bottles of wine that much more appreciated! Also, having the weekends around the holidays to gather with the people I love is fantastic. 

I always provide the wine.

If you are the wine provider this Turkey Day, or want to bring something delicious to dinner, here are a few Thanksgiving wine ideas! 

WINE - LA MARCA

ITALY - Veneto

grapes: Prosecco (Glera)

LIGHT * FRESH * SPARKLING

aromas of: apple, honey, flowers

tastes of: apple, lemon, mineral

* light body, bright acidity, lively finish!
price tag: $15

WINE - PINE RIDGE

USA - California (Napa)

grapes: Chenin Blanc, Viognier

JUICY * CLEAN * REFRESHING

aromas of: citrus, lemon, flowers

tastes of: citrus, pear, melon, flowers

* light body, well balanced, fresh finish!

price tag: $13

WINE - CLEAN SLATE

GERMANY - Mosel

grapes: Riesling

CRISP * BRIGHT * LIVELY

aromas of: apple, citrus, melon

tastes of: apple, pear, lemon, lime, mineral

* light body, semi-dry, clean finish!

price tag: $12

WINE - LA CREMA

USA - California (Sonoma)

grapes: Pinot Noir

SMOOTH * LUSCIOUS * VIBRANT

aromas of: baked cherry, earth, flowers

tastes of: cherry, cranberry, vanilla, espresso

* medium body, silky, lingering finish!

price tag: $25

WINE - RAVENSWOOD

USA - California (Lodi)

grapes: Zinfandel

JUICY * FULL * SUPPLE

aromas of: black cherry, plum, currant

tastes of: cherry, blueberry, blackberry, chocolate, spice

* full body, balanced acidity, fruity finish!

price tag: $15

WINE - HOGUE

USA - Washington (Columbia Valley)

grapes: Riesling (late harvest)

CLEAN * RIPE * SMOOTH

aromas of: citrus, honey 

tastes of: apple, lemon, honey

* medium body, smooth acidity, lingering finish!

price tag: $12



With so many different flavors at the dinner table, and so many different people to please, it is best to showcase a few varieties at Thanksgiving. It is also a good idea to choose easy drinking, medium bodied, well balanced wines. ...MOST IMPORTANTLY enjoy the company of those you love! 

photo credit: <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/nicolelee/69616135/">Nicole Lee</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/">cc</a>

Autumn Tastes

Hello Autumn! I love the beginning chills of fall. Such a colorful time of year that has us pulling out all of the things that bring us warmth and comfort. 

I'm pulling out some wine.

In the fall, I like to drink wine that is light to medium bodied, with notes of honey, oak, and spice. Here are some great bottles for the chillier autumn weather! 

WINE #1 - WILD HORSE

USA - California (Central Coast)

grapes: Viognier 

FLORAL * SMOOTH * FRESH

aromas of: citrus, pear, spice

tastes of: citrus, apricot, mineral, flowers

* medium body, crisp acidity, smooth finish!
price tag: $15

WINE #2 - LOUIS JADOT

FRANCE - Burgundy (Maconnais)

grapes: 100% Chardonnay

BRIGHT * CRISP * CLEAN

aromas of: citrus, apple, flowers

tastes of: apple, pear, citrus, spice

* medium body, well balanced, crisp finish!

price tag: $12

WINE #3 - MEIOMI

USA - California

grapes: Pinot Noir

SMOOTH * ELEGANT * LUSH

aromas of: berries, cranberry, vanilla

tastes of: cherry, strawberry, blackberry, vanilla, oak

* light-medium body, very well balanced, smooth finish!

price tag: $20

WINE #4 - GUIGAL

FRANCE - RHONE (Cotes du Rhone)

grapes: Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre 

SILKY * SPICY * BOLD

aromas of: dark berries, cherry, flowers, spice

tastes of: raspberry, black cherry, chocolate, black tea, spice 

* full body, smooth tannins, lingering finish!

price tag: $14 



Being that this is the first weekend of fall, you ought to uncork and celebrate! Cheers!

JUICY     FRUITY     FUN

Wine, fruit, juice, and sweetness ... oh what a wonderful idea! Spain and Portugal certainly thought so. They have been drinking this punch for quite a long time. Sangria was introduced to the USA in 1964 at The World's Fair in New York. Now, it is one of our most popular wine cocktails ... not to mention, a party drink that can be enjoyed by everyone!

Here we have the typical make-up of the delicious drink:

Both red and white can be used in sangria.
Best whites: Pinot Grigio, Riesling, Chenin Blanc
Best reds: Merlot, Zinfandel, Grenache, Rioja, Red Blends

Popular fruits: lemons, limes, oranges, berries, peaches, apples

Great mixers: Sprite/7-up, Ginger Ale, Club Soda

Sweeteners can include: sugar, honey, fruit juices

Occasionally added: Brandy, Triple Sec

ALSO, check out this terrific info-graphic:

On a hot day it's difficult to say no to a refreshing pitcher of this stuff! My family and I recently shared a pitcher (well, two pitchers) at Sarah's Vineyard on a screaming hot day. They have some crazy refreshing Sangria!

There are some decent bottles of Sangria out there, such as Senor Sangria and Eppa Sangria, but really, nothing comes close to home-made, so here are some tempting recipes for you:

THE BEST WHITE SANGRIA

EASY SUMMER SANGRIA

STRAWBERRY SANGRIA


MERLOT AND BRANDY SANGRIA


AUTUMN APPLE SANGRIA


CRANBERRY CHRISTMAS SANGRIA

AND Food and Wine has some great Sangria's to browse at your leisure!

photo credit: <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/preppybyday/5084101513/">TheCulinaryGeek</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/">cc</a>

Orin Swift Wines

About a year ago I heard word of THE PRISONER.

A name so unforgettable ... I had to discover what it was all about.

I normally decide to run away from the things everyone in the world raves about. For example, I've never read 50 Shades and I don't play Candy Crush. Only this is wine ... so really, I don't have to 'follow' the crowd, but I have to know what the crowd is all about. I tried a bottle of The Prisoner with a delicious meal at The Rossi one night. 

Now I'm all about Orin Swift Wines.

I only knew of The Prisoner (which is a blend of mostly Zinfandel grapes) until a few days ago when I was happily introduced to FOUR more of his spectacular, terrific, sensational, and DELICIOUS other bottles.

I love the wine education at my place of work.

Here is what I tasted, and quite honestly what you MUST try for yourself.

WINE #1 - MANNEQUIN
grapes: Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Grenache Blanc, Viognier, Marsanne, Roussanne, Muscat
ELEGANT * SMOOTH * RICH
aromas of: oak, pear, melon
tastes of: lemon, tropical fruit, butter, marshmallow
* perfectly balanced, moderate acidity, long creamy finish!
price tag: $30

WINE #2 - ABSTRACT
grapes: Grenache, Petite Sirah, Syrah
BIG * VOLUPTUOUS * VELVETY 
aromas of: dark fruit, herbs
tastes of: blackberry, plum, chocolate, tootsie roll
* good oak, balanced acid, soft tannin, long smooth finish!
price tag: $30

WINE #3 - PALERMO
grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc 
BRIGHT * BOLD * COMPLEX
aromas of: cherry, flowers, oak
tastes of: black cherry, blackberry, plum, mocha
* well balanced, big tannins, deliciously strong finish!
price tag: $40

WINE #4 - E-2
grapes: Grenache, Tempranillo, Monastrell, Carignan
EXOTIC * YOUNG * INTENSE
aromas of: dark berries, spice
tastes of: raspberry, cherry, plum, pepper, flowers
* bright acidity, low tannin, silky finish!
price tag: $15



conclusion: Cheers to these incredibly artistic blends! Check out your closest Andersons store to find these and others. Orin Swift wines are limited production ... eventually they will be harder to nab. Get them before the holidays! 

Winter Whites

Last night we went to a wine tasting. We tasted some FANTASTIC wines. A few of them were white wines and had everyone wishing for and talking about summer. OH SUMMER. There is something about a crisp and refreshing glass of white wine that makes you want to sit on a patio and bask in the warm sun forever. But…we’re still only a little into February. 

I definitely crave white wines more when the weather is warmer, but I don’t think it’s any reason to ditch them once the cold weather hits. There are some serious white wines that can really make the cold season fantastic. I've chosen a few of my favorites that you can find pretty easily!

NOTE: Medium to full bodied whites that are rounder and more flavorful are easy drinkers in the winter.

WINE #1 - AVISSI

ITALY - Veneto (Sonoma)

grapes: 100% Prosecco 

SPARKLING * CRISP * LIVELY

aromas of: citrus, apple, spice

tastes of: lemon, lime, apple, flowers

* light body, bright acidity, drink young!

WINE #1 - SONOMA CUTRER

USA - California (Sonoma)

grapes: 100% Chardonnay

BRIGHT * ELEGANT * RICH

aromas of: citrus, apple, pear

tastes of: lemon, apple, pear, oak, vanilla

* medium body, bright acidity, creamy finish!

price tag: $25

WINE #2 - PONZI

USA - Oregon (Willamette)

grapes: 100% Pinot Gris

SMOOTH * BRIGHT * LIVELY

aromas of: apple, pear, vanilla, nutmet

tastes of: lime, peach, pear, honey, mineral

* light-medium body, brilliant acidity, lingering finish!

price tag: $18

Drink up and be warmed! 



photo credit: <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wasabi42/5632461873/">wasabi-man</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/">cc</a>

The Wine Blog Begins...

Hello and welcome to OHIOenophile. A project I have been dying to start for an entire year! This is it, the first post of many.

Before I begin, a few things about me:

• I love wine
• I am not a wine expert by any means, just an enthusiast... I love it
• I love things other than wine, but wine especially
• I have lived in Ohio for 25 years
• I am 25 years old

The reason for this blog is as follows...

Besides the obvious (happiness, health, wealth), what I want most in life is a successful winery and vineyard in my backyard. This is a dream that is in the works...in my head at least

Also, if I wasn't stating the obvious (my family, my husband, my new house), what makes me most happy is a delicious meal paired with a glass of wine. Sometimes just a glass of wine in my hand.

Wine is wonderful. Every bottle is a new adventure somewhere. People have a lot of good things to say about wine. It soothes the soul. It is bottled poetry. It is essential to life. It is good for your health...etc.
I love wine. I could continue to pour out my love of all things wine, but I’ll stop for the moment because that is what this blog is for.

Most people I know like wine...or think they like wine. I also know a lot of people that are intimidated by wine. You shouldn't be intimidated by wine. I did a fair amount of wine research before the start of this and often came across a lot of wine “snobbery”, or articles filled with words that could scare away (or bore) any wine lover. I found those articles silly. Wine is not difficult.

So, to summarize a couple reasons for me to blog about wine…

1. To provide and store knowledge of all things wine for myself and any other casual wine drinker or lover of wine

2. To simplify wine

and finally…

3. To bring attention to Ohio’s grape growing areas and promote Ohio wineries

I've never been to Napa Valley, but I have been to many of Ohio’s beautiful vineyards. They are hidden gems that everyone should take the opportunity to enjoy...and the wine is good

Now for what to expect on the blog … I’ll make this short and sweet:

• bits and pieces of wine information
• wine reviews
• food and wine events
• a featured Ohio winery every few months
• a peek into our adventure in starting a vineyard

So cheers to the new year and good wine